Question:
What are the Different Types of DUI Charges?
Answer:
In Florida, like every other state in the country, there are several categories of DUI charges. The actual charge brought against you depends on many different factors, including number of prior DUI offenses, blood alcohol concentration, drug presence in one’s system, injuries or deaths involved in a DUI crash, as well as property damage. The different charges that can be brought against you fall into different categories:
First Time DUI
A first time Misdemeanor DUI means there are no prior DUI offenses and no aggravating circumstances such as damage to property, injuries or death. It could be enhanced, however, if your blood alcohol level is above a 0.15 reading.
Multiple DUI
If you have prior DUI’s, the charge will be enhanced, including possibly to a Felony level.
Felony DUI’s
A Felony DUI charge can be brought for several reasons: (1) you have three DUI charges within a 10 year period, (2), you have a 4th DUI charge no matter how much time has elapsed between prior offenses, and (3) your DUI resulted in injury or death.
DUI With Serious Bodily Injury
This is a Felony charge. The injury must be to another person and must involve a very significant level of injury, such as permanent disfigurement or be a condition that creates a substantial risk of death.
Enhanced DUI
An Enhanced DUI charge is when your breath or blood alcohol level is 0.15 or higher. This can occur with even a First offense DUI, and increases the penalties, such as requiring a breathalyzer to be installed in your vehicle.
DUI with Property Damage
This is a DUI charge where you damage someone else’s property while you are impaired.
DUI Manslaughter
This charge is a Felony and occurs when someone dies as a result of your impaired driving.
Commercial Vehicle (CDL) DUI
If you are a CDL driver, you are held to a higher standard than that of a regularly licensed driver. You can lose your CDL license for a DUI, whether you are driving your work vehicle or your personal car.
DUI Under the Age of 21
If you are underage, you can still receive a DUI charge just like anyone else. However, alcohol merely being present in one’s system, even if not sufficient for a Criminal DUI level, can still lead to an administrative suspension of one’s driver’s license as someone under the age of 21.
Boating under the Influence (BUI)
These are the laws that apply to drinking and boating. They are similar to DUI laws, as the “legal limit” for blood alcohol content is still 0.08.
These are a sample of the different types of DUI charges you can receive in Florida. If you have been arrested for drinking and driving, please contact our Panama City DUI defense lawyer at Albert Sauline III, Attorney at Law.
Call (850) 250-3426 or contact us online for a free case evaluation.